Collapsible boat.



N. LAWSON.

(/OLLAPSIBLE BOA'I.

APlLILM-X'IION FILED MARll-i. 1914. 1,1 14,996. Patented 001:. 27. 1914.

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N. LAWSON.

COLLAPSIBLE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.14.191f1.

4 M; a m n W I 7 m w 0 a J ts OT 1 0m j n m 1. P a Z r/ 6 9 4. 1 1 1 GUM/l3 NEAL LAWSON, 01! LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

GOLLAPSIBLE BOAT- Specification of Letters Ifatent.

' Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

Application filed March 14, 1914. Serial No. 824,702.

To all whom it may concern: 4

Be it known that I, NEAL LAwsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Boats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to collapsible boats, the particular object of the invention being to provide a boat adapted for use in emergencies especially in disasters at sea such as ship wrecks from any cause, the boat of this invention having the parts thereof connected together in convenient relation to enable the boat to be quickly set up and placed in condition for use and further adapted, when not in use, to be spread out in a perfectly flat condition until all of the sections of the boat lie in a common plane. This enables a large number of boats when collapsed to be compactly placed in a pile or one upon the other so as to greatly economize space.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will hereinafter be more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a boat constructed in vaccordance with the present invention and shown in readiness for use. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 3 is a central vertical cross section through the same. Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal section illustrating the tongue and groove joint at each side and adjacent to the stern of the boat. Fig. 5 is a detail section showing the form of the remaining joints. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the boat when fully collapsed and spread out.

The entire boat contemplated in this invention is composed of a number of sections which are all interconnected and adapted, when the boat is collapsed and spread out, to lie in a common plane as shown in Fig. 6.

The boat comprises the main centraLsection 1 which constitutes the bottom of the boat when set up. This main section 1 is substantially rectangular in shape and may be constructed of any suitable material such as wood. At opposite sides of the main section 1 are the main side sections 2, the adjoining edges of the sections 1 and 2 being beveled as shown at 3 and said beveled edges having attached thereto and strips 4 which when pressed tightly against each other form a water tight joint. Furthermore, the side sections 2 and main section 1 are connected on the outside by flexi- 1 extending lengthwise thereof rubber joint ble water tight strips 6 which constitute hinges connectin the side sections and main section and admitting of the necessary relav tive folding movements thereof.

At the forward end of the main section 1 is a breast section 7 and at the rear end of said main section 1 is a countersection 8, the sections 7 and 8 being connected to the main section 1 by the hinge forming strips 9 similar to the strips 6 above described as connecting the side sections 2 and the main section 1. Likewise rubber packing strips 10 are placed in the joints between the sections 7 and 1 and the sections 8 and 1 similar to the strips 4 above described. The countersection 8 is substantially rectangular in shape while the breast section 7 is triangular. Bow side sections 11 also substantially triangular in shape are connected along the lines 12 with the breast section 7 by means of flexible hinge strips 13 and packingstrips 14 similar to those 6 and 4, respectively, above described. Other sternside sections 15 are connected alon the edges 16 to the opposite side edges of the countersection 8 by means of theflexible hinge strips 17 and packing strips 18'similar to those above described.

19 designates metal-or wooden strips extending along the meeting edges of'all of the sections and serving as reinforcements for said sections and also for the packing strips which extend along and are confined between the beveled meeting edges of, the sections.

When the several sections of the boat are brought into their position of use, the sections are interconnected by means of hooks 20 and eyes 21 conveniently located on the several sections. In addition to the fastening means just referred to, cross stay rods 22 are detachably connected to eyes 23 on the side sections 2 and said stay rods 22 not only serve to tie the side sections 2 together but they also form supports for seats 24 which rest directly on said rods and abut at their ends against the inner faces of the side sections 2. Connected to the rear edge of the countersection 8 is a transom section 25 which is connected to the countersection 8 by means of a flexible strip 26-corresponding with the strip 6 above described, the joint between the sections 8 and being also provided with the same kind of packing strips 27 above described in connection with the oints between the other sections.

A large'nuniber of boats may be compactly piled one upon the other when not in use and when required in use they may be readily set up and by reason of the con-- struction (escribed, a strong, serviceable boat is produced which is rendered water tight in a practical manner. When the boat is collapsed and spread out, all of the joints are in plain View so that they may be inspected daily if necessary and renewed as frequently as may be considered advisable.

hat l claim is 2- 1. A collapsible and folding boat comprising a main central section forming the boat bottom a bowbreast section, a countersection and opposite side sections all attached to said main central section by flexible watertight hinge strips; opposite bowsidesections hinged to the breast section by flexible watertight strips; opposite stern side sections and a transom'section hinged to said countersection by flexible watertight strips; and fastening means for holding all of said sections in' fixed relation when in set up condition.

- 2. A collapsible and folding boat comprising a main central section forming the boat bottom, a bow breast section, acountersection and opposite side sections all attached to said main central section by flexible Water tight hinge strips; opposite bow side sections hinged to the breast section by flexible I 1 water tight strips; opposite stern side sections and a transom section hinged to said countersection by flexible water tight strips; fastening means-for holding all of said sections in fixed relation when in set up condition, and stay rods serving to tie the opposite side-sections together and also serving as seat supports.

3. A collapsible and folding boat co1nprismg a main central section forming the'boat bottom, a bow breast section, a countersection and opposite side sections all attached to said main central section by flexible water tight hinge strips; opposite bow side sections hinged to the breast section by flexible Water tight strips; opposite stern side sections and a transom section hinged to said countersection by flexible water tight strips; and fastenin means for holding all of said sections in fixed relation when in set up condition, all of said sections being flat and adapted when the structure is collapsed to lie in a common plane.

4:. A collapsible and folding boat comprising a main central section forming the boat bottom, a bow breast section, a countersection and opposite side sections-all attached to said main central section by flexible Water tight hinge strips; opposite bow side sections hinged to the breast section by flexible Water tight strips; opposite stern side sections and a transom section hinged tov strips; fastening means for holding all of said sections in fixed relation when in set up condition and rubber oint strips attached to and extending along the separable meeting edges of said sections.

In testimony whereof ll afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NEAL LAW/SON.

Witnesses S. J. ANDREWS, GEORGE Lona 7o said countersection by flexible water tight Y 

